CONGRESS ENTERS SEAWORLD FIGHT

$1M set aside to study effects on animals; park cites concerns

Congress is moving to force an overhaul of two-decade-old federal standards for the treatment of captive marine mammals in the wake of a contentious debate in California over state legislation stoked by the film “Blackfish” that would have banned killer whale performances at SeaWorld San Diego.

Two House Democrats this week secured bipartisan and unanimous support to set aside $1 million for the federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to study the impacts of captivity on marine mammals, specifically orcas. The findings could then be used to craft new protections that have not been changed for 20 years.

“The American people want to see these regulations reviewed and updated to reflect the growing scientific and public concern about the effect of captivity on these animals,” said a joint statement released by Reps. Adam Schiff of Burbank and Jared Huffman of San Rafael.

SeaWorld is wary.

“We believe the Animal Welfare Act should provide a clear and positive regulatory framework based on sound science for America’s zoos and aquariums, and the animals in their care,” the park said in a statement.

“We would hope that any effort to revise these regulations is based on science and not the allegations of animal rights extremists. There are numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies on this subject that already exist. SeaWorld parks already meet or exceed all government and professional accreditation standards for the care of marine mammals.”

In the California Legislature, Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, introduced in March a measure that would prohibit using orcas in performances, ban captive breeding and forbid the import and export of the killer whales. SeaWorld would still have been allowed to put whales on exhibit in settings similar to aquariums, but not offer its popular Shamu shows.

His bill was tabled by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee after a month of intense lobbying on both sides. Bloom is now preparing for hearings this fall on the issue and he plans to introduce replacement legislation next year.

He welcomed the move in Congress to fund the study through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s budget. But he said it is unlikely to reshape the debate in California and would not wait for the federal findings before pushing ahead with his own bill.

“It’s not going to stop our efforts here. Who knows how long it will take USDA to act?” Bloom said.

A long time, if at all, suggested Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist for the Animal Welfare Institute, which sponsored Bloom’s bill and backs the congressional appropriation.

The rule-making process is arcane and cumbersome — buried in the obscure agency called the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, part of the Department of Food and Agriculture, Rose said in an email.

It took five years of negotiations with federal officials, SeaWorld and animal welfare advocates to reach consensus on just a few rule changes that went into effect in 1995-96, she said.

The Bloom bill, if it becomes law, will be more sweeping than any federal regulations, Rose said.